Charles j



CHARLES J. A. DICK, OF LEYLAND ROAD, LEE, AND GEORGE A. DICK, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO SAID CHARLES J. A. DICK.

METALLIC ALLOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,615, dated June 8, 1880.

Application filed June 23, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARL S J AMEs ADOLPH DICK, of Leyland Road, Lee, in the county of Kent, and GEORGE ALEXANDER DICK, of 110 Cannon street, London, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Metallic Alloys, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention consists of improved alloys or compounds of wrought-iron or of mild steelthat is, steel containing a proportion of carbon not exceeding the proportion found in wroughtiron, with phosphorus and tin, and with or without the addition of lead. We have found that by heating scraps of wrought-iron or mild steel, or also iron-sponge, in a covered crucible to bright red or white heat, and then adding thereto a proportion of tin or phosphuret of tin, as the case may be, and as is hereinafter fully specified, the ironwill be completely melted down or dissolved in a short time, and the resultant alloy or' compound, being very fluid, is applicable for making fine castings of V considerable strength, and is also well adapted for bearings or journal-boxes. We improve the quality of said alloy by the addition thereto of a proportion of lead, and greatly increase the toughness and ductility of the castings made from the latter compound by subjecting the same while at a red heat to the process of annealing, especially if the casting has been made in a chilLmold. We have found that the compound with lead, as above, is excellent material for bearings and other like purposes.

3 5 The iron or steel used in the manufacture of the compounds should be free, or very nearly free, from combined carbon; otherwise the product would be brittle and worthless. A like effect would be produced by the admix- 0 ture of any appreciable quantity of graphite or free carbon. The presence of phosphorus in compounding the above alloys is necessary, as it renders the same liquid and greatly improves their uniformity, soundness, and

5 strength.

More or less phosphorus may be contained in the iron or steel used, and the application of more phosphorus may be made, when necessary, by the addition of phosphuret of tin 5 or the iron or steel may be free from phospho- 5 ms, which should be entirely furnished by phosphuret of tin in proper proportions, which lat-ter mode of manufacture oifers the advantage of great uniformityin the product and of a rapid reaction and melting of theiron, which is of importance, owing to the tendency of tin to become vaporized at high temperatures.

When using the well-known iron-sponge obtained by direct reduction of iron ore, instead of wrought-iron scrap, in the manufacture of said alloys, the reaction and the melting of the particles of metallic iron in said-sponge, upon the introduction of the tin or phosphuret of tin, are very rapid, and the use of-iron-sponge offers the further advantage of a vitreous slag, being naturally formed by the melting of the earthy impurities contained in the sponge, which slag protects the melting or molten compound in the crucible against the action of the atmosphere. When using wrought-iron or steel scrap we introduce a similar slag into the crucible for the same purpose. When usingphosphurets of tin, in perfecting the alloys, with pure iron oriron containing an insufficient component quantity of phosphorus, as above stated, we adopt such phosphurets as contain from five to fifteen, or more, per cent. of phosphorus, and it is essential that the total component quantity of phosphorus in the perfected v alloy or compound shall exceed a proportion of five per cent. relatively to the component quantity of tin, and shall not exceed a proportion of two per cent. relatively of the component quantity of iron in the same. The presence of small quantities of carbon in the compound renders it necessary to reducethe proportion of phosphorus, which could otherwise be advantageously used, as the resulting alloy thereby becomes hard and brittle. The lead is added in the crucible, either together with g the tin or phosphuret of tin, or afterward, and the whole compound remains exposed to the action of heat for a sufficient length of time to allow of an intimate and uniform mixing or combination of the differentingredients. The metal is then run into ingots, ready for use. It may be remelted in an ordinary furnace, and without any material alteration in its com.

ponent proportions, and it may be cast in sand or in chills at a low temperature.

WVe have found that for the production of useful alloys the maximum quantity of tin should not exceed ten per cent. of the perfected alloy, and if in connection with lead the total quantity of tin and lead together should not much exceed the same proportion, in order that it may properly and uniformly combine and remain mixed with the iron or alloy of iron and tin formed in the Whole body of the casting. NVe have found that a good alloy for bearings can be made by combining ninetytwo per cent.,ofiron, one per cent. of phosphorus, three and one-half per cent. of tin, and three and one-half per cent. of lead. WVe do tions; but

We claim as our invention with the addition of lead When desired, all asset forth.

2. The Within-described fusible alloy or compound, the same consisting of wrought-iron or mild steel, tin, and phosphorus, as specified.

Intestimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES JAMES ADOLPII DICK. GEORGE ALEXANDER DICK.

Witnesses SAMUEL CARL EDUARD DE BABY, GEO. HENRY FUNoK. 

